Second woman quizzed by police over Rolf Harris ‘sex assault’

Police have interviewed a second woman in Australia over sex assault claims against Rolf Harris.

Met detectives questioned the 42-year-old, who alleges she was indecently assaulted by him when she was a teenager visiting London.

The entertainer and artist, 83, was arrested in March on suspicion of sex offences. He has not been charged with any offence.

The woman from Wollongong, south of Sydney, said she spoke to Met officers who travelled to Australia. She alleges the incident took place in a London pub in the Eighties when she travelled to the capital with a theatre group.

Allegations against Harris are being investigated by Operation Yewtree, the unit set up to investigate abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile and others. However, the claims are not linked to the strand of the inquiry concerning Savile.

The other woman to come forward, a mother aged 43, says she is a witness to an alleged incident, rather than a victim.

Yesterday friends of Harris said the claims were are “utter rubbish”. Musician Dana Gillespie, who has worked with Harris, said: “I’m amazed Scotland Yard are wasting their time. He’s the cleanest living man. Harris’s friend and producer Steve Lima said the allegations were “completely without foundation”.